Live sheep export ban
Kevin Hogan and Jonathon Duniam argued that the UAE agreement could have helped the live sheep industry, but the government’s policy to end live sheep exports left that opportunity unrealised.
Customs Tariff Amendment (Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation)
Current status
This bill became law on Aug 2nd, 2025.
Policy area
Budget, tax & economy
What does this bill do?
The Act amends the Customs Tariff Act 1995The Commonwealth law that sets customs duty rates. This Act adds the UAE preferential tariff schedule to it. to implement Australia’s tariff commitments under the Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership AgreementThe free trade agreement between Australia and the United Arab Emirates that this Act helps implement for customs tariffs..
Why was it introduced?
The bill was introduced to let Australia apply the tariff side of the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership AgreementThe free trade agreement between Australia and the United Arab Emirates that this Act helps implement for customs tariffs.. The government said the agreement would diversify trade, improve certainty for exporters and importers, and support commercial and strategic links with Australia’s largest trade and investment partner in the Middle East. This bill supplies the tariff rates; the companion Customs Amendment Act supplies the rules for deciding which goods qualify as UAE originating goodsGoods that meet the agreement’s rules of origin for the United Arab Emirates. Only those goods can receive the preferential UAE tariff rates..
Broader context
This Act is one half of the domestic customs law package for Australia’s first free trade agreement with a Middle Eastern country. The policy story is mostly about trade diversification, market access for exporters, investment links and rules for applying lower tariffs. Parliamentary debate was broadly supportive, with criticism focused more on adjacent trade and industry policy than on the tariff mechanism itself.
Key criticism
The bill’s tariff mechanism did not face substantial opposition in the collected record. Coalition speakers supported the package, but used debate to criticise related government policies on live sheep exports and industry subsidies.
Who supported it?
Julian Hill MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Introduced in House 24 July 2025
Passed House 30 July 2025
Passed Senate 31 July 2025
Became law 02 Aug 2025
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 02 Aug 2025
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
9 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
What does this bill do?
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The Act amends the Customs Tariff Act 1995The Commonwealth law that sets customs duty rates. This Act adds the UAE preferential tariff schedule to it. to implement Australia’s tariff commitments under the Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership AgreementThe free trade agreement between Australia and the United Arab Emirates that this Act helps implement for customs tariffs..
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UAE originating goodsGoods that meet the agreement’s rules of origin for the United Arab Emirates. Only those goods can receive the preferential UAE tariff rates. that are not listed in the new Schedule 16The new schedule inserted into the Customs Tariff Act listing duty rates for UAE originating goods that are not immediately duty free. receive a free rate of customs duty once the agreement enters into force for Australia.
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New Schedule 16The new schedule inserted into the Customs Tariff Act listing duty rates for UAE originating goods that are not immediately duty free. sets phased duty rates for some UAE originating goodsGoods that meet the agreement’s rules of origin for the United Arab Emirates. Only those goods can receive the preferential UAE tariff rates., with those rates reducing to free by the fifth calendar year after the agreement enters into force.
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Some alcohol, tobacco, fuel and petroleum products remain subject to excise-equivalent customs duties, so imported UAE originating goodsGoods that meet the agreement’s rules of origin for the United Arab Emirates. Only those goods can receive the preferential UAE tariff rates. are treated like comparable Australian-made goods.
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The Act also updates concessional tariff provisions so concessions and tariff concession orders can apply properly to UAE originating goodsGoods that meet the agreement’s rules of origin for the United Arab Emirates. Only those goods can receive the preferential UAE tariff rates..
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The tariff amendments work with the companion Customs Amendment Act, which creates the rules of originRules used to decide whether goods genuinely come from a trade agreement partner for tariff purposes. The companion Customs Amendment Act contains these rules for UAE goods. used to decide whether imported goods count as UAE originating goodsGoods that meet the agreement’s rules of origin for the United Arab Emirates. Only those goods can receive the preferential UAE tariff rates..
Show source excerpts
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amend the Customs Tariff Act 1995 ... to give effect to the preferential tariff treatment applicable to goods covered by the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
Customs Tariff Amendment explanatory memorandum -
provide for a ‘Free’ rate of customs duty for UAE originating goods not listed in new Schedule 16. The ‘Free’ rate will have effect from entry into force of the Agreement for Australia
Customs Tariff Amendment explanatory memorandum -
specify the phasing rates of customs duty for certain UAE originating goods that will incrementally reduce to ‘Free’ by the fifth calendar year after the Agreement enters into force
Customs Tariff Amendment explanatory memorandum -
maintain rates of customs duty imposed on certain alcohol, tobacco, fuel and petroleum products which are equivalent to the rates of excise duty payable on these goods when locally manufactured
Customs Tariff Amendment explanatory memorandum -
amend Schedule 4 to maintain customs duty rates for certain UAE originating goods in accordance with the applicable concessional items
Customs Tariff Amendment explanatory memorandum -
Complementary amendments to the Customs Tariff Act 1995 are also required to provide for these preferential rates of customs duty applicable to UAE originating goods.
Assistant minister second-reading speech
Context
Broader context for this bill
This Act is one half of the domestic customs law package for Australia’s first free trade agreement with a Middle Eastern country. The policy story is mostly about trade diversification, market access for exporters, investment links and rules for applying lower tariffs. Parliamentary debate was broadly supportive, with criticism focused more on adjacent trade and industry policy than on the tariff mechanism itself.
- 17 Mar 2022
Australia and the UAE signal trade talks
The explanatory memorandum says Australia and the UAE announced an intention to pursue the Comprehensive Economic Partnership AgreementThe free trade agreement between Australia and the United Arab Emirates that this Act helps implement for customs tariffs. in a joint ministerial statement.
Explanatory memorandum ↗ - 13 Dec 2023
Formal negotiations are announced
The explanatory memorandum says the trade minister officially announced the start of negotiations on 13 December 2023, after public reporting that the government was turning attention to the UAE as EU talks stalled.
Explanatory memorandum and Australian Financial Review ↗ - 17 Sept 2024
Negotiations conclude with investment focus
The government announced the conclusion of negotiations. Collected news reporting described expected tariff removals for almost all Australian goods exports and possible UAE investment in critical minerals.
Explanatory memorandum and Australian Financial Review ↗ - 06 Nov 2024
Agreement is signed in Canberra
The explanatory memorandum says the agreement was done on 6 November 2024, alongside a standalone investment agreement and memoranda of understanding relating to investment.
Explanatory memorandum ↗ - 24 July 2025
Tariff implementation bill enters Parliament
Julian Hill introduced the tariff bill with the companion Customs Amendment bill so Australia could apply preferential duty rates and rules of originRules used to decide whether goods genuinely come from a trade agreement partner for tariff purposes. The companion Customs Amendment Act contains these rules for UAE goods. when the agreement enters into force.
APH bill page and second-reading speech ↗ - 29 July 2025
House debate shows broad support
Kevin Hogan supported the two-bill package and described the agreement as positive, while criticising the government’s live sheep export policy as a missed opportunity for UAE trade.
House second-reading debate ↗ - 31 July 2025
Senate passes both UAE customs bills
The Senate debated the package and passed the bills. Nita Green said the Joint Standing Committee on TreatiesThe parliamentary committee that examines treaty actions. Debate on this package said it reviewed the agreement and recommended binding treaty action. had recommended binding treaty action.
Senate second-reading debate ↗ - 02 Aug 2025
Royal Assent starts only the machinery provisions
Royal Assent commenced sections 1 to 3. Schedule 1 depends on the companion Customs Amendment Act and the agreement entering into force for Australia.
Final Act text and explanatory memorandum ↗
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
House Senate
Introduced 24 July 2025
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 24 July 2025
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 29 July 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Sent to Federation Chamber for debate 29 July 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
Federation Chamber debate 29 July 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
House second reading agreed 29 July 2025
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
Returned from Federation Chamber 30 July 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
House third reading agreed 30 July 2025
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Introduced 31 July 2025
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
Second reading opened 31 July 2025
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Second reading debate 31 July 2025
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate second reading agreed 31 July 2025
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
Senate third reading agreed 31 July 2025
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Passed both houses 31 July 2025
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
Assent 02 Aug 2025
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Joint Standing Committee on TreatiesThe parliamentary committee that examines treaty actions. Debate on this package said it reviewed the agreement and recommended binding treaty action. review
The trade agreement had treaty committee scrutiny before the customs implementation bills were passed.
Recommended binding treaty action
Second-reading speeches and explanatory memorandumKey criticism
The main case against this bill
The bill’s tariff mechanism did not face substantial opposition in the collected record. Coalition speakers supported the package, but used debate to criticise related government policies on live sheep exports and industry subsidies.
These criticisms were mostly about adjacent trade, agriculture and industry policy. They did not amount to recorded opposition to the bill’s passage or to the core tariff changes.
Industry subsidies
Andrew Bragg supported trade liberalisation but warned against government industry subsidies, criticising Future Made in Australia as picking winners rather than improving competitiveness.
Further sources
Votes
Recorded votes
How the bill itself passed
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
Passed House passed the bill
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed
House passed the bill
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Passed Senate passed the bill
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed
Senate passed the bill
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
Start here — lead voices
Sponsor speech Supports
Julian Hill
Julian Hill introduced the two-bill package and said the tariff bill would insert Schedule 16The new schedule inserted into the Customs Tariff Act listing duty rates for UAE originating goods that are not immediately duty free. into the Customs Tariff Act so UAE originating goodsGoods that meet the agreement’s rules of origin for the United Arab Emirates. Only those goods can receive the preferential UAE tariff rates. can receive preferential duty rates under the agreement.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead supporting voice Supports
Kevin Hogan
Kevin Hogan supported the two-bill package and said the agreement would open Middle East opportunities, while criticising the government’s live sheep export policy.
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Jenny McAllister
Jenny McAllister moved the second reading in the Senate and incorporated the government’s speeches explaining that the bill would apply preferential duty rates for UAE originating goodsGoods that meet the agreement’s rules of origin for the United Arab Emirates. Only those goods can receive the preferential UAE tariff rates..
Read in Hansard ↗ Lead voice Supports
Andrew Bragg
Andrew Bragg supported trade liberalisation and argued Australia should diversify trade while avoiding protectionism and industry subsidies.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
Labor
3 speakers · 3 support
Labor
3 speakers · 3 support
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Jenny McAllister ★ Jenny McAllister moved the second reading in the Senate and incorporated the government’s speeches explaining that the bill would apply preferential duty rates for UAE originating goodsGoods that meet the agreement’s rules of origin for the United Arab Emirates. Only those goods can receive the preferential UAE tariff rates..
“The Customs Tariff Amendment ... Bill 2025 will amend the Customs Tariff Act 1995 to implement the preferential rates of customs duty for UAE Originating Goods”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Julian Hill ★ Julian Hill introduced the two-bill package and said the tariff bill would insert Schedule 16The new schedule inserted into the Customs Tariff Act listing duty rates for UAE originating goods that are not immediately duty free. into the Customs Tariff Act so UAE originating goodsGoods that meet the agreement’s rules of origin for the United Arab Emirates. Only those goods can receive the preferential UAE tariff rates. can receive preferential duty rates under the agreement.
“This bill will insert a new schedule of duty rates into the Customs Tariff Act.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Nita Green Nita Green supported quick entry into force of the agreement and highlighted tariff elimination, First Nations outcomes, women’s economic empowerment and environmental references.
“The government is committed to seeking the entry into force of the Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement as soon as possible”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Coalition
3 speakers · 3 support
Coalition
3 speakers · 3 support
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Kevin Hogan ★ Kevin Hogan supported the two-bill package and said the agreement would open Middle East opportunities, while criticising the government’s live sheep export policy.
“the benefits this will open up—and it will open up the Middle East to us as the first agreement to be done in this region—are very positive”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Andrew Bragg ★ Andrew Bragg supported trade liberalisation and argued Australia should diversify trade while avoiding protectionism and industry subsidies.
“we have to show fidelity to free trade. We must, as these bills propose to do, find ways to liberalise and open up new markets.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗ -
Jonathon Duniam Jonathon Duniam supported the benefits of the agreement, including wider export access, but argued the government’s live sheep export ban undermined a possible benefit for farmers.
“Of course, there are some benefits to this agreement. The agreement is Australia's first free trade agreement with a nation of the Middle East.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Full record
- Act title
- Customs Tariff Amendment (Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Act 2025
- Act number
- Act No. 33, 2025
- Became law
- 02 Aug 2025
- Takes effect
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- Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table 02 Aug 2025
- Schedule 1 At the same time as Schedule 1 to the Customs Amendment (Australia-United Arab Emirates Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement Implementation) Act 2025 commences.
- Registered
- 05 Aug 2025
- Administered by
- Department of Home Affairs
- Commencement was manually checked because the collected run warned about commencement extraction.
- The Act itself commences sections 1 to 3 on Royal Assent, 2 August 2025.
- Schedule 1 does not have a fixed date in this Act. It commences when Schedule 1 to the companion Customs Amendment Act commences.
- The explanatory memorandum says that companion commencement is the later of Royal Assent and the Australia-UAE agreement entering into force for Australia, with the minister to announce the entry-into-force day by notifiable instrument.
- Status
- Act -- Collected from the APH bill page.
- Originating house
- House of Representatives
- Introduced
- 24 Jul 2025
- Assented
- 02 Aug 2025
- Amendments
- No proposed amendments collected -- The introduced and as-passed bill texts matched after normalization.
- Commencement
- Schedule 1 depends on companion Act commencement -- Sections 1 to 3 commenced on Royal Assent; the operative tariff schedule follows the companion Customs Amendment Act and agreement entry into force.
- 24 July 2025
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 24 July 2025
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
- 29 July 2025
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 29 July 2025
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 29 July 2025
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 29 July 2025
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 30 July 2025
House · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 30 July 2025
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 31 July 2025
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 31 July 2025
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
- 31 July 2025
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
- 31 July 2025
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
- 31 July 2025
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
- 31 July 2025
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
- 02 Aug 2025
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Joint Standing Committee on Treaties
Recommended binding treaty action
The trade agreement had treaty committee scrutiny before the customs implementation bills were passed.
Parliamentary debate and the explanatory materials state that the committee reviewed the agreement and related investment agreement and recommended ratification or binding treaty action.
Second-reading speeches and explanatory memorandum